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Senators vs. Canadiens: Game Five

4:40 PM: Gord Wilson stops by today with the only Sens game preview you ever need to see:

3:40 PM: Sens TV has their usual slate of game day goodness for you all, passing along a handful of bits from players and Coach MacLean.

Paul MacLean

Daniel Alfredsson

Sergei Gonchar

Kyle Turris

3:15 PM: Craig Anderson passes along his thoughts prior to Game 5 on Peter Budaj and finishing the job.

On Peter Budaj:

He's a hard worker and really good team guy. He gives his team a chance to win and that's all you can ask of your goaltender. He fits that bill.

On going head-to-head with a friend:

It'll be fun. He's a good friend and a guy that everybody likes. He and I got along really well and still talk -- maybe not during this series -- but prior and, I'm sure after we'll have some good stories. It's still our team vs. their team and at the end of the day only one team can win. Regardless of whether or not you're friends with the guy on the other side or not you're playing for the sweater you're wearing and that's all that matters when you're on the ice.

On winning tonight:

You want to strike while the iron is hot, you want to be able to finish an opponent at the earliest you can. Obviously it's going to be a tough game and we have to play the way we want to play and the way we've had success. If we focus on that we'll let the result take care of itself. Mentally, it's a lot easier knowing that we have a couple of chances. In our mindset right now we make sure we play our hockey, play the best we can and let the chips fall where they may and hopefully that ends on our side tonight.

1:50 PM: Coach MacLean offered up his pregame thoughts ahead of Game 5 against Montreal. Here's what he had to say...

On facing a desperate Montreal team:

Our approach is that we're desperate to win a playoff series. We haven't done that since I've been here and we have an opportunity. We had two opportunities last year in Game 6 and Game 7 against the Rangers to win a playoff series and tonight is the next opportunity. We're desperate to win a series. That's the approach we're taking.

On facing a team with a lot of injuries:

We know that adversity can lead to opportunity. We've done it. We should be aware of it, we realize it. At the same time we want to be desperate to win a playoff series. If we play that way we should give ourselves a good chance.

On P.K. Subban saying Montreal is the better team:

He's right. They're the second place Montreal Canadiens and we're the seventh place Senators.

On the how the team has played thus far:

I know that the games go both ways. They've controlled it at times, we've controlled it at times. We got three and they got one. You can say it any way you want, we've won three games. That doesn't mean we've done it. All we've done is win three games. You don't get any prizes or anything for winning three games. You have to win four.

On facing Peter Budaj:

8-1-1. That's a pretty good goalie. We know that he's a good goalie so we have to go and we have to play. We have to play hard and make it difficult for him to play his position.

11:30 AM: The Sens have hit the ice in Montreal for their morning skate.

11:20 AM: Eric Gryba has been a focal point of attention all series after his Game 1 hit on Lars Eller. He spoke yesterday about his return to the ice in Game 4 and what he expects in Montreal...

On the Montreal fan reaction:

I'm expecting to get a little more attention than I have in the past in Montreal but it's all part of spectator sport. Fans bring a different element to the game and that's the way it should be.

On playing again:

It took me a little while to somewhat get back. You almost forget how fast it was. Sitting out those two games I felt a difference, but overall I felt solid.

On his growing confidence at the NHL level:

I've been here for long enough that I kind of know where my game is and what I need to do to be successful so it's a matter of establishing that with myself on the ice.

On playing with different partners:

When you're playing with such good defencemen, whether it's Methot or Phillips or Cowen, I mean, how do you go wrong with any of those guys? They're all so solid. Philly was really awesome yesterday, talking a lot and helping me out getting me back into things. It was a big help for sure.

11:00 AM: For those who may have missed it, Dave Schreiber's call of the Turris Game 4 winner is fantastic. The transcription:

Ricochets to Methot at the point. Left side to Turris, shot blocked. Turris another shot, SCORES! KYLE TURRIS BEATS BUDAJ! HOLY-O-MOLY KNOCK ME DOWN AND CALL ME MARILYN THE SENATORS DOWN TWO TO NOTHING IN THE SECOND PERIOD THEY WIN IT OVERTIME 3-TO-2 TO TAKE A 3-TO-1 LEAD IN THE SERIES GOING BACK TO MONTREAL FOR GAME FIVE ON THURSDAY NIGHT. KYLE TURRIS THE HERO.

10:30 AM: It's official news out of Montreal now. Peter Budaj will start for the Habs tonight.

Carey Price will not return in the series against Ottawa due to a lower body injury.

9:45 AM: It's a Game 5 game day in Montreal and your Ottawa Senators will be looking to put away the Montreal Canadiens tonight when the puck is dropped at 7 pm at the Bell Centre. Game 4 brought some vintage Sens pesky-ness to the table, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to win it in OT and tonight will be their first chance to punch their ticket to round two.

The Sens will hit the Bell Centre ice at 11:30 AM for their morning skate. I'll have plenty of updates to follow including, but not limited to, lineup changes, players thoughts on tonight's game, Sens TV updates, Instagram goodness and more.